Financial pressures block young people from accessing work experience

• 41% of young people have less than £8 per day to spend on work experience related costs such as travel, food and suitable clothing
• 29% of employers say increased operational and staffing costs are affecting their ability to pay work experience students or cover expenses
• Over two-thirds of young people think it’s unfair that access to work experience often depends on “who you know” 

AAT has today (4 July 2025) released new research which reveals access to work experience is still heavily influenced by geography, cost and personal connections. 

AAT’s survey reveals that young people want to gain confidence and insight into the world of work through work experience, with 88% saying it would help with job applications and 74% that it would clarify their future choices. Employers see the long-term benefits too; 65% say work experience helps them identify future employees and 49% report that it improves their organisation’s reputation. 

A pathway limited by privilege 

While the data highlights a shared belief in the value of work experience it also exposes major barriers that disproportionately impact young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Most young people (77%) take part in work experience, with the majority of those securing placements via school or college (50%). However, more than a third (34%) rely on family contacts, leaving over two-thirds (69%) of young people feeling it was unfair that access often depends on “who you know”. Just 16% of young people secured placements independently. 

The results also show almost one-third of employers (29%) struggle to find candidates from diverse backgrounds who meet their inclusion goals, suggesting that current work experience pathways may hinder diversity efforts.  

The findings underscore the urgency of widening access to career opportunities for young people; a goal AAT is tackling head-on with its newly launched virtual work experience programme in partnership with Springpod.  

“Too many young people are locked out of early career experiences simply because they don’t have the opportunities or right connections,” said Sarah Beale, AAT CEO. “That’s a clear barrier to social mobility, and one we are determined to break down.” 

Financial and geographic barriers 

Both young people and employers identified costs as a significant challenge. 41% of young people had less than £8 per day to spend on work experience related costs such as travel, food or suitable clothing, while 8% said they simply couldn’t attend work experience unless expenses were fully covered. Currently, 51% of work experience candidates receive pay and have expenses reimbursed in full, however 29% of employers said rising staffing and operational costs would limit their ability to support candidates in future. 

In many cases, opportunities are concentrated in urban centres with 40% of employers hosting their work experience candidates in Greater London, but only 31% of survey respondents based there, suggesting this limits opportunity for young people based on location.  

Virtual experience: broadening access and boosting impact 

The potential for virtual work experience to address these inequalities is clear. Two-thirds (67%) of young people believe it is more accessible, and 72% said it allows them to apply for placements outside their local area. Encouragingly, over the last three years, employers have been changing their approach to work experience, with 19% now offering virtual placements. This has led to 13% typically hosting candidates virtually, with 33% hosted in a hybrid capacity. While these figures are positive, there remains significant scope for more employers to expand remote work experience – better aligning with today’s digital work environment.   

AAT’s virtual work experience programme builds on this momentum, removing cost and barriers by offering an introduction to the world of accounting and bookkeeping, with the chance to practise real-world skills and hear from AAT accountants and bookkeepers working in the industry. 

Responding to the results Sarah Beale, AAT CEO said: “While this is not a like-for-like replacement for in-person opportunities, virtual placements are a powerful way to start and level the playing field and another step towards an inclusive profession. Done right, they give employers flexibility and could provide a desperately needed talent pipeline,  and help young people gain vital experience and develop transferable skills, without financial or geographic limits. 

“The findings reinforce AAT’s long-standing belief that widening access to careers in accountancy and finance benefits everyone: learners, employers, and society.  

“This is about investing in potential, we want a profession that reflects the diversity of our communities and is open to all, not just those with the right postcode or connections.” 

To highlight the impact of work experience, AAT spoke with two AAT members who share how virtual placements create accessible, transformative opportunities for young people. 

Julie Spence, Glasgow, AAT member and bookkeeping firm owner 

“Starting work at 16 taught me not only work lessons but valuable life lessons no classroom could. That’s why I truly see real value in work experience; it gives young people early exposure to the world of work, wherever they are. Not everyone has access to placements on their doorstep, but virtual work experience makes it possible.”  

Laura Watson, Chester, AAT Apprentice 

“Doing work experience online helped me build my CV, sharpen my focus, and realise there was a path for me outside of university. My virtual work experience wasn’t one-on-one, but it opened the door for me. Without it, I wouldn’t have understood the career opportunities within accounting and finance that were available.”